New Mercedes Models Can Compose A Song While You Drive

Mercedes-Benz models equipped with the firm’s second-generation MBUX infotainment software will come installed with an interesting new synthetic sound system from mid-2024.

The new system has been unveiled at CES in Las Vegas and is dubbed MBUX Sound Drive. The software has been created in collaboration with will.i.am and allows “music to react to the way the car is being driven, creating a harmonious relationship between motion and melody,” or so says the carmaker’s press release on the system.

MBUX Sound Drive operates through a series of sensors and software to interpret different driving dynamics, like recuperation, acceleration, steering, and braking, and can convert them into musical expressions in real time.

“Imagine a world where your car can become an instrument creating musical journey,” will.i.am described in a statement. “MBUX SOUND DRIVE enhances driving and sound technology, letting motorists reshape music just by driving. I’m excited to see how composers, producers, and songwriters will harness this to create new works and reimagine classics for motorists to drive to. MBUX SOUND DRIVE is not only a new frontier for music creation, but also opens up fresh, exciting, and interactive listening experiences for drivers.”

Read: New Mercedes Assistant Will Speak To You Like A Friend And Match Your Mood

Mercedes-Benz wants to make the system an open music platform in the long term, meaning artists will be able to create tracks using the MBUX Sound Drive studio software that changes depending on how a car is driven. Mercedes says that initially the system could interact with the windshield rain sensors and provide “soothing rhythms during inclement weather to reduce stress and enhance concentration.”

“At Mercedes-Benz, we want digital innovation to bring a smile to our customers’ faces through exciting new features that make a real difference to every journey,” added member of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz and chief technology officer Markus Schafer added. “With MBUX SOUND DRIVE, AMG drivers are in control of the way their music sounds. It makes in-car entertainment much more immersive.”

Owners with eligible vehicles will be able to gain access to MBUX Sound Drive with an over-the-air update.